POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
PALESTINE NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE MOVEMENT
Presentations by Jonathan Pollak and Ayed Morrar
October 15, 2005
Summary by Janet Wahl
Presentations by Palestinian Ayed Morrar and Israeli Jonathan Pollak took place on Friday, October 14, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in Reidy Friendship Hall, Unitarian Church of All Souls.
Israel's Annexation Wall is the most visible symbol of its occupation of Palestine. Largely ignored but increasingly noticed by world press, thousands of Palestinians and hundreds of Israelis are waging nonviolent resistance against the Annexation Wall that is destroying Palestinian homes and livelihoods.
The first presenter, Jonathan Pollak, was among the first Israelis to demonstrate nonviolently but actively against the Wall. He has been jailed repeatedly, shot, and yet continually comments in the media. To put the construction of the wall in context, Jonathan presented a brief historical overview.
The second presenter was Ayed Morrar, a Palestinian, who led men, women and children of Budrus, his village in the West Ramallah District near Jerusalem, to a rare victory for his village and the nonviolent cause. He is spreading his nonviolent experience to other villages in the path of the Wall. He and his brothers have been jailed 8 days.
In 2002, Israel began to build a "separation fence" wall between the two countries which Israel said was needed for security and self defense. In reality, according to Pollak and Morrar, it is better described as a wall as it is used by Israel to achieve the following goals:
-
avoid recognition of the 1967 border,
-
further "cantonize" occupied territories,
-
gain control over water resources. Drilling of new wells is restricted by the Oslo Accords. Palestinians have to buy water from Israel, the water they obtain from wells they used to own,
-
leave Palestinians little agricultural land that they can expand,
-
perpetuate most Israeli settlements.
For Palestinians, this wall is a set of obstacles 60-100 meters wide mostly located inside of the West Bank in Palestinian territory. Although the wall was supposed to be as short and straight as possible, it is 385 miles in length, double the green line. The International Court of Justice declared the wall illegal.
The illegalities and obstacles are numerous. First, when the wall is completed, 9.5% of the West Bank will be on the Israeli side of wall; hence, Israel will be gaining land. Second, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian people have been not only inconvenienced but also endangered. The statistics are overwhelming: Over 30,000 Palestinians are caged between the green line and the wall; 216,000 are separated from rest of the West Bank; 244,000 are in 50 communities on the east side of barrier surrounded on three sides. A total of 490,000 Palestinians in 92 communities are directly affected by the wall. This does not include farmers who have land on the opposite side of the wall from where they live. As a result, people living in communities on eastern side of the wall need permits of residency to gain entrance to their own homes. Tens of thousands are separated from workplaces, civilian centers, hospitals, and universities. As Palestinians travel to work, soldiers are waiting at every corner. At this time there are 700 check points in the area. Truly the wall makes life miserable for Palestinians.
According to Ayed, Palestinians have two choices. They can simply cry and watch their olive trees uprooted, the trees on which Palestinian economy is dependent, or they can struggle to gain peace and freedom from an unfair master. Palestinians have the right to resist an unjust occupation. There needs to be peace between Palestinian slaves and Israeli masters. Palestinians are looking to the international community to help build peace between two states.
Ayed emphasized that Palestinians are not a violent people. It simply does not pay to be violent; Palestinian violence only gives Israel reason to act violently in return. Palestinians are against violence and killing and they have no power against the strongest army in the world. The nonviolent women, children and the elderly are the heroes who stand up to Israeli bulldozers that are building the wall.
The protest at Budrus was successful and is a model for peaceful protests for other communities. This demonstration stopped the wall but with a high price as 300 of the 1200 population was injured. Palestinians won: the wall was moved closer to green line so they lost 2% of their land rather than 25%. This particular protest has encouraged many Palestinian communities to follow suit. All protests had Palestinian and Israeli participants.
Several points were made during the question and answer period.
It is argued that the wall has stopped suicide bombers. Is there any truth to this?
-
In the short run, it may have. On the other hand, the wall has ruined any interaction and has caused despair, hunger, separation, hatred, alienation, and prejudice. In the long run, it will not provide security. After years and years of separation, any attempt to reconcile will become much harder if not impossible.
Is religion part of the bombing?
-
There is no connection between religion and bombing.
Discuss Palestinian Resistance prior to terrorism
-
Resistance did not have any effect prior to terrorism.
What role has the U.S. media played in the bigotry that underlies the wall?
-
The U.S. is the biggest power behind Israel. It has had a big role in shaping policy in Middle East. You can tell us about U.S. policies better than we can tell you.
Is it true that the U.S. policy toward Israel is the single greatest barrier to peace?
-
Of course.
Are there any prominent Israeli politicians who support this movement?
-
No mainstream politician has supported us.
Is it possible to have a noncontiguous Palestinian state?
-
How can you make a state that is not connected? By phone? We have to find some way to connect all parts of the state in order to make a workable state.
What will motivate Israel to relinquish control over the West Bank?
-
Only if the occupation is no longer manageable will Israel end the occupation.
If there is a single set of actions that Americans can take, what is it?
-
That is hard for us to say. Come to Palestine and support the peace movement. Put pressure on the U.S. Government to change its policies, which are resulting in continued fighting.
This event was initiated by the International Solidarity Movement and sponsored by the Peace Task Force in conjunction with co-sponsors: Community Church Action for Justice Committee, the Dialogue Project, Not In Our Name Education Committee, and St. Bartholomew's Church-St. Bart's in the City and Just Peace Ministries.
|
|
